Earthquake Preparedness in Japan: Early Warnings, Your Go-Bag and What to Do
Updated: 2026-09-03
Quick answer
Hi, I'm Miya. Earthquakes are part of life in Japan, and the calmest thing you can do is prepare a little in advance so you're not deciding everything in the moment.
Three things carry most of the weight: knowing how the early warning works, practising drop-cover-hold, and having a small go-bag ready plus a way to reach family. For the specifics that matter for your building and area, always follow official disaster guidance.
The earthquake early warning and the seconds it buys you
Japan has a nationwide earthquake early warning (kinkyu jishin sokuho). When sensors detect the first, faster waves of a quake, an alert can be pushed to phones and broadcasts before the stronger shaking arrives. It's usually only a few seconds — sometimes a little more if you're farther from the epicentre — but those seconds are enough to stop what you're doing and protect yourself.
The alert makes a distinctive sound and shows on most phones sold in Japan without any setup. When you hear it, don't rush to look at the screen — treat it as a cue to get low and cover your head immediately. It won't fire for every small tremor, and occasionally the shaking is milder than expected, but reacting the same way every time builds the habit that helps most.
In the moment: drop, cover, hold on
The basic move recommended almost everywhere is simple: drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy table or desk, and hold on to it until the shaking stops. Getting low stops you being knocked over, cover protects you from falling objects, and holding on keeps your shelter with you if it shifts. If there's no table nearby, crouch beside an interior wall away from windows and shield your head and neck with your arms.
Try not to run outside while it's still shaking — falling glass and signs are a real hazard near buildings. If you're in bed, stay there and protect your head with a pillow. If you're cooking, only turn off the heat if you can do it safely without reaching across. Once the shaking stops, open a door to secure an exit, put on shoes in case of broken glass, and check on anyone nearby before you think about moving.
Your go-bag and a safer home
A go-bag (bosai bag) is a small backpack you can grab in seconds. Useful basics include water and a little non-perishable food, a torch, a portable battery for your phone, a copy of important documents, some cash, any regular medication, and a few comfort items. Keep it somewhere easy to reach near your door, and check it a couple of times a year so the water and batteries stay fresh.
Home safety is the other half, and it's mostly about stopping heavy things from falling on you. Secure tall furniture and bookshelves to the wall with brackets or tension rods, keep the space around your bed clear of anything that could topple, and don't store heavy items up high. These small fixes do a lot, but for what's right for your specific home and region, check official disaster guidance and your local government's materials.
Checking in with family afterwards
After a big quake, phone lines and networks often get congested because everyone tries to call at once. That's exactly why Japan has disaster message boards and safety-confirmation services (such as web-based message boards and the "171" voice message dial) designed to work when normal calls struggle. Agreeing in advance on which service you'll use saves a lot of worry in the moment.
A simple plan helps: decide with your family how you'll check in, and pick a meeting point in case you can't reach each other. Short text-style messages and messaging apps often get through when voice calls don't, so a quick "I'm safe" note is usually the kindest and most reliable thing you can send. Let someone outside the affected area know too, since they can help relay news.
Staying connected keeps you safer
Notice how much of this reaches you through your phone — the early warning alert, the safety-confirmation message boards, the "I'm safe" note to family, the local guidance you look up afterwards. Reliable mobile data isn't a luxury here; it's part of staying informed and reachable when it matters most.
If you've just arrived, getting a Japanese number sorted early is one quiet way to be more prepared. With Rakuten Mobile you can apply online with just your residence card, and if your phone supports eSIM you can be ready in about 15 minutes without visiting a store. Check the official page for current conditions before you apply — and once you're connected, the alerts and messages that help keep you safe can actually reach you.
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